Normally, yes, you increase gain = more saturation = more compression. Normally. The Diezel VH4 is unique in that it's response is compressed but it is still a pretty dry amp. It's response to picking dynamics is indeed very even and to me, it always felt like playing a clean channel with a...
I love my MC1 100w. With some volume, it is one seriously pissed off amp and I mean that in a good way!
It will absolutely come across as more raw, open and punchy compared to the 101b and Shiva (also awesome amps!).
The 594 SC is a cool guitar, but I found I liked my regular McCarty and OG Singlecut more for that kind of thing (PRS doing Les Paul kind of tones).
If I were in the market for a high end Les Paul style guitar and didn't want a Gibson, I would be getting a Knaggs.
I would say something like a Diezel Vh4 is "compressed and tight" whereas Wizards are "uncompressed and tight". To me, Wizards feel great to play; there is some give when you pick. They are unforgiving not in how they feel, but how they respond, which is immediate, clear, loud and proud! Diezels...
There are deals, but you have to be ready to pounce nowdays, because they are typically gone quick. Just saw that with a nice Jackson SLATQH guitar. Priced at what would be a super deal, even pre-Covid and the listing lasted maybe a couple hours? Of course, the guy who got a deal turned around...
Yup....there is always tradeoffs, whether it is filtering out a bunch of low end early in a circuit, removing/altering bright caps, adding a gain stage, diodes, etc. And like you said, the better modders and designers command a premium for a reason as they can retain more of magic the original...
Agree 100%. We complain about how modern amps are too filtered and neutered....but that is what a ton of players were asking for: Rectos with way tighter low end and no fizz, Marshall's with more gain and less abrasive upper mids. Everyone wanted the amps to sound recorded right out of the box...
Redbacks are one of my favorite Celestions. I agree that they come across as more balanced than inherently dark or rolled off and they don't have any hyped mid range frequencies to my ears.
For a high wattage speaker, they play like a lower wattage speaker; a little looser with some give, yet...
I have owned both the V1 and V2...so I guess I didn't hang on to them. Lol! That said, I would rank them right up there as my favorite production model Friedmans, for sure!
Between the V1 and V2, they are honestly pretty similar overall in terms of tone and feel.
I could see a reissue response go like this:
First, the YouTube "usual suspects" (Fluff, Ola, etc) get the 2C+ reissue. Their reviews are of course, rave reviews. The 2C+ reissue is dead nuts like a superb old C+ example.
Then, amps start getting into player's hands and we see a mixed bag of...
I own a Core NF3 and it is fantastic. I bought it new for I think 1600 Canadian in 2017. It plays great, but those narrowfields are amazing: clear and punchy across all strings. They also rip under gain!
A good boost, eq in the loop, good noise suppressor. I have done this dance with both 5150 and old Rectos and it works great for what I play (skate punk, melodic hardcore). Boost obviously tightens things up and adds some aggression and the suppressor obviously kills noise, but an eq in the loop...
That is an amp that I won't try multiple times, because for the key reason you stated, just will not work with my playing. At all.
They absolutely sound great. And I have a couple friends who rip on them. But that 'squish' is just an overcompressed smear to me and if you have any attack in...
Exactly like my old 2001 VH4. Outside of it feeling a bit better to play, I do prefer the "modern" VH4 which is a bit tighter and brighter and with more range on ch2 and better rythm capability on ch4.
Rectos would be in that camp for me, as well as Diezels in general.
My first recto I bought new in 1999, a Rev G. I think the Mesa sound and response in my head was more like a Mark series....and a Recto is the opposite of that! Lol! Now, at the time (and for quite a number of years after), I...
I am really digging my KSR Colossus as a modern, multi-channel amp. Always like to have one in the stable.
It has a great clean channel, a very awesome and unique sounding crunch channel. For its two lead/high gain channels, lead 1 reminds me of a smoother, tighter SLO vibe while lead 2 reminds...